Improved rowlock



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH YV. NORCROSS, OF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED ROWLOCK. SQ?

To all to nhom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. Nononoss, of Middletown, in the county ot`MiddleseX and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Rowlock a-nd I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

` clined planes, in combination with the rowlock and pin on which the 'same swivels, whether the same be secured to the plate or gunwale or to the rowlock in such a manner that by the action of said inclined planes, combined with that of' the inherent gravity of the rowlock, said rowlock is always turned to a position parallel with the keel.

The invention consists, further, in the application ot' a spring-catch, in combination with the rowlock and with the pin in which it swivels, in such a manner that the rowlock is securely held in place and prevented from coming out spontaneously.

ln using rowlocks it is essential for the sat'tey ot the boat that the saine shall always be kept in a proper position at all times to receive the oar. The common swivel rowlock frequently by the motion of the boat, caused by the rocking of the wave or by striking against the side of a vessel or dock, gets displaced and crosswise of the boat, so that the oar can not be shipped in time to save the boat from swampin g.

The rowlock A, which forms the subject of this invention, is made to swivel on a pin, B, which extends up from the flanged plate C, or, instead ot' securing the pin to the plate, said pin might be secured to the rowlock and made to swivel in a suitable socket in the plate, which is fastened down to the edge ot' the gunwale. In this latter case, however, the socket isliable to become choked up'ivith ice in cold weather or with impurities, andthe operation of introducing 'the rowlock is rendered difficult. For this reason l prefer to cast the pin solid with the plate, and to make a corresponding socket into the rowlock, as shown in the drawings. Said pin is provided with four inclined planes, a, arranged as shown in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, and corresponding inclined planes c', or simple rollers or pins, are secured in the interior of the socket in which the pin turns. Said inclined planes are so combined that they form four right-angled triangles, the hypotenuses of which are inclined toward the keel ot' the boat, and it' the rowlock is in its proper position parallel with the keel of the boat, the apexes of the inclined planes ct fit into the cavities between the inclined planes c, and if by some cause the rowlock is disturbed from this position its inherent gravity carries it back, and it is therefore always in the proper positionto receive the oar.

The pin B is made to extend above the inclined planes, and it is provided with a circular groove, b, to receive a spring-catch, c, which is secured to the side of the rowlock, and which drops into said groove and prevents the rowlock from dropping out accidentally. Thisspring-catch does not interfere with the revolving motion of the rowlock, and itis obvious that the same can be constructed in various different ways, and if the pin B is cast solid with or secured to the rowlock, the catch must be secured to the plate or socket in which said pin swivels. A rowlock is thus produced which will alwaysf be in the proper position to receive the oar, and all accidents caused by the displace- :ment of the rowlock are avoided.

It' inclined planes are used both on th pin and in the socket, those in the socket can be produced in a cheap and simple manner by running Babbits metal into it and pulling in the pin. The inclined planes are thus made to tit each other perfectly, and the friction between the rubbing-surfaces is reduced by making the same of two metals of diiiferent hardness.

I claim as newand desire to secure by Leters Patentl. The inclined planes, in combination with the rowlock and pin on which the same swivels, whether the same be secured to the look in and prevent its coming out spontaneplate or gunwale or to the rowloek, substanously. tizilly as and for the purpose herein set forth. T, s

2. The spring-catch, applied in combina- JOSEPH W :NORJROSS' fion with the rowloek, and with the pin on Vitnesses: which it swivels, substantialy as herein de- WM. F. MCNAMARA, scribed, for the purpose of holding the row- C. L. TOPLIFF. 

